PROJECT TEAMS

RDoC Project Teams focus on ongoing or new areas of focus important to Canada’s residents as identified by the RDoC Board. Teams work with RDoC staff to conduct research and develop deliverables, which can include position papers or statements, principles documents, guidelines, infosheets, infographics, web texts, or any other items generated to promote an issue on an ongoing basis. All projects are approved by the RDoC Board of Directors

RDoC advocates for an accreditation system that ensures efficient, effective training for Canada’s residents. Currently, our work in this area includes developing a process to evaluate the implementation of the RDoC Pre-Accreditation Questionnaire, continuing to orient new resident surveyors, educating residents about accreditation and the continuous quality improvement of their programs, and developing a questionnaire for residents in programs undergoing external reviews.

As the national voice of over 10,000 resident physicians, RDoC presents the views and experiences of individual residents in unique ways. Currently, our work in this area includes producing resident-moderated webinars and podcasts on a variety of MedEd topics, editing a printed anthology of residents’ experiences in medical training; and creating profiles of residents and new-in-practice physicians to assist in career decision-making.

RDoC’s work in this area focuses on supporting residents during the transition to CBME and providing support and resources for residents to function within this new paradigm. Currently, our work in this area includes developing a toolkit that can be used by residents at any level in CBME preparation, roll out, and post-implementation, and creating resources for residents to deliver effective evaluation & feedback strategies that will allow them to maximize their learning opportunities.

RDoC advocates with the Federal Government on behalf of Canada’s resident doctors for improvements and innovations in Canadian health systems and patient care. It is critical that RDoC is ready for the federal election that will take place this fall.

RDoC is advocating for a national licensure, which would allow physicians to provide care across provinces and territories. This would ensure standardization, increased physician mobility, and improved response to patient-care needs in various geographical regions. We advocate with the regulatory authorities to achieve this goal.

RDoC conducts regular membership surveys to help support our policy development and advocacy efforts. Information obtained through these surveys allows us to effectively advocate for improved post-graduate training in Canada, both directly through the work of our organization and indirectly by sharing the knowledge obtained through publication and other educational forums. The next iteration of the survey is scheduled for 2020.

RDoC continues to advocate for increased flexibility, transparency and consistency in postgraduate medical education resident transfer policies and transfer processes across individual programs. Currently, our work in this area includes developing a suggested centralized transfer pathway to better facilitate resident transfers across the country and refining our 2013 Principles of Resident Transfers as a foundation of these efforts.

RDoC has developed a practical, skills-based Resiliency Curriculum to help mitigate stress and optimize performance during residency training and beyond. Currently, our work in this area includes the ongoing development of the curriculum (including a mobile app), its delivery and its evaluation, as well as addressing systemic-barriers to care.

RDoC advocates for seamless transitions from training to practice, standardized practice management training for residents in non-clinical areas and appropriate resources and supports for residents as they make career decisions. Currently, our work in this area includes creating an educational resource to introduce residents to different styles of investing, adapting pre-existing resources on physician payment models in Canada to produce a more visually appealing and accessible resource to increase awareness of various payment models, and maintaining an online list of career resources on the RDoC website.

RDoC recognizes that residency is a particularly dynamic and stressful time for many learners, who must continuously balance educational, personal and patient-care responsibilities. We are dedicated to supporting our members’ health and wellness throughout their medical training and have taken a leadership role in many resident wellness projects, including fatigue risk management, intimidation and harassment prevention, and promoting a positive work environment.